NASSIT Strikes Landmark Partnership with SLBA
In a historic move toward inclusive social protection, the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) has officially inducted private legal practitioners into its national pension scheme—marking the first time in Sierra Leone’s history that self-employed lawyers in private practice will receive structured retirement and social benefits.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held today at NASSIT’s Western Area Regional Office, situated behind Big Market in central Freetown. The event brought together representatives of the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA) and senior officials from NASSIT in a moment hailed as “a giant leap for social security reform.”
According to SLBA Public Relations Officer Alfred Kamanda, this development is not only historic but also fulfills a key campaign promise of the SLBA’s President, Tuma Adama Gento Kamara, who vowed to extend pension coverage to legal professionals previously left out of formal social safety nets.
“This is the beginning of a process that will guarantee social security for private legal professionals in Sierra Leone,” said Kamanda. “We are in this to raise the bar.”
NASSIT to Sponsor Nationwide Legal Awareness Seminar
As part of the agreement between the two institutions, NASSIT will fully sponsor a major seminar scheduled for Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the Bintumani Conference Center. The event is expected to bring together legal practitioners from across the country for an in-depth orientation on the pension scheme and its benefits.
Attendees will receive detailed information on:
Contribution structures and benefits
How dependents and children can be included in the scheme
The legal framework governing pensions for self-employed professionals
Members have been urged to bring along their National Identity Cards or Voter ID, and if applicable, the birth certificates of their children or dependents, to facilitate smooth registration.
A Step Toward Broader Social Protection
This move is being celebrated as a landmark moment in Sierra Leone’s pursuit of universal social protection, particularly for self-employed professionals who have historically operated outside the formal retirement and insurance system.
It also showcases NASSIT’s increasing role as a progressive and inclusive social security institution, capable of evolving to meet the needs of modern professions beyond traditional public and corporate sectors.
Observers say the inclusion of lawyers in private practice could pave the way for similar arrangements for accountants, engineers, journalists, doctors, and other self-employed professionals in the near future.
Raising the Bar for the Legal Profession
For SLBA President Tuma Adama Gento Kamara, today’s achievement reflects her administration’s vision of a modernized, professional, and secure legal community.
By delivering on her campaign promise to bring social safety to legal practitioners, she has taken a tangible step toward improving the welfare and dignity of lawyers across the country.
“It’s not just about legal reform; it’s about human dignity, social protection, and building a legal profession that can retire in peace,” one legal observer noted.
As Sierra Leone continues its journey toward strengthening institutions and expanding national coverage of critical services, this partnership between NASSIT and the SLBA will likely be remembered as a turning point in professional welfare—and a bold example of what public-private collaboration can achieve.